Louis van Gaal hopes Marcos Rojo’s injury picked up against Arsenal is ‘not serious’ while he described Marcus Rashford as ‘special’.

The Manchester United boss pitched the 25-year-old Argentinian defender back into the side to face the Gunners at Old Trafford on Sunday following a three-month absence because of shoulder surgery.

Van Gaal planned to give Roko an hour to get some game time under his belt, but then had to withdraw him five minutes earlier when he was hurt in a challenge with Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

Afterwards Van Gaal said: “I don’t think it is serious, it was a kick. We have to wait and see, of course.”

Meanwhile the Dutchman was quick to heap praise on youngster Rashford, who followed up his Europa League debut double on Thursday night with two more goals in the first half of Sunday’s 3-2 victory.

The 18-year-old also set up Ander Herrera for his deflected third goal and his arrival on the scene has helped reinvigorate a United side that have failed to captivate their home supporters on numerous occasions this season.

On Rashford, Van Gaal added: “I think his performance was better than the first match. Normally the first matches a debutant plays are good, but it is the consistency – he has to show it in the third, fourth, fifth match. But what he showed in his second match is special, I think.”